Physiological responses of Triplaris gardneriana Wedd. seedlings (Polygonaceae) under intermittent drought

Triplaris gardneriana Wedd is a deciduous riparian tree occurring in areas with different climatic conditions in Brazil, from the rainforest to the tropical dry forest. An increase in global temperature and drought events can change the growth pattern and establishment of the species. To evaluate the effects of intermittent drought on the growth of T. gardneriana seedlings, an experiment was performed using seedlings with one month old subjected to three water treatments (daily irrigation as control, and intermittent drought through cycles of water suppression of seven (S7) and 14 days-intervals (S14) between watering. Growth, biomass production and partitioning, relative water content (RWC), the accumulation of organic solutes, protoplasmic integrity and phenotypic plasticity index (PPI) were evaluated for a better understanding about its drought tolerance level. Intermittent drought severely affected plants growth in S14 plants, showing lower plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and dry biomass. RWC was reduced, while carbohydrates and proline contents increased in response to drought stress. Protoplasmic damage increased electrolyte leakage in plants subjected to severe stress. However, T. garderiana demonstrated moderate tolerance to water deficit. The plastic changes observed were more physiological than morphological. Therefore, T. gardneriana seems to be a moderately tolerant species to intermittent drought.

Impact of Extreme Temperature and Soil Water Stress on the Growth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

Climate change is a major environmental stressor that would adversely affect tropical agriculture, which is largely rain-fed. Associated with climate change is an increasing trend in temperature and decline in rainfall, leading to prolonged and repeated droughts. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of climate variables such as temperature, relative humidity, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and soil water on the phenology, biomass, and grain yield of soybean crops. A greenhouse experiment was set in a split plot design with three average environmental conditions as the main plots: E1 (36 °C, RH = 55%), E2 (34 °C, RH = 57%) and E3 (33 °C, RH = 44%). Additionally, there were three water treatments: W1 (near saturation), W2 (Field capacity), and W3 (soil water deficit) and two soybean varieties (Afayak and Jenguma). These treatments were replicated nine times. The results showed that high temperatures (E1) accelerated the crop development, particularly at flowering. Additionally, increased atmospheric demand for water under a high temperature environment resulted in high evapotranspiration, leading to high transpiration which probably reduced photosynthetic activity of the plants and thereby contributing to biomass and grain yield loss. Biomass and yield were drastically reduced for the combined effect of high temperature (E1) and drought (W3) as compared to combined effect of ambient temperature (E3) and well-watered condition (W1). Increasing temperatures and erratic rainfall distributions associated with climate change poses a potential threat to the soybean production in Ghana.

Assessment of Moringa oleifera Seeds as a Natural Coagulant in Treating Low Turbid Water

This research examined the coagulating potential of Moringa oleifera seeds in treating low turbid water. The active ingredient of the seeds was extracted using Soxhlet Apparatus with hexane as the solvent, after which the coagulant was dosed from 0.03g/L to 0.4g/L and used to treat a water sample with a low Turbidity of 18.4NTU, yielding an optimum value of 4.90NTU, an optimum dose of 0.03g/L and a turbidity reduction of 100% when compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standard which is 5NTU. The study affirms Moringa oleifera as an effective natural coagulant in low turbid water treatment and it is recommended for household water treatments. Keywords— Hexane, Low turbid water, Moringa oleifera, Natural coagulant, Soxhlet apparatus

The role of some chemical transactions in the germination of seeds of some salt-stressed pepper genotypes: دور بعض المعاملات الكيميائية في إنبات بذور بعض طرز الفليفلة الخاضعة للإجهاد الملحي

This research was carried out at Sweida Research Center/ General commission for Scientific Agricultural Research/ Syria during 2020. Seven pepper genotypes were used; five local varieties (10496, 10743, Aleppo pepper, thick sweet pepper and deer horn pepper) and two lines (129 and 110). This research aimed to determining the effect of seed priming treatments in enhancing the tolerance of pepper to salt stress during germination stage. Seeds were divided into four groups, the first group was treated with distilled water, the second with NaCl (50 mM), the third with poly ethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) (16.7 mM) and the fourth with sorbitol (250mM). Seeds were exposed after drying to several NaCl levels (0, 2, 4, 6 gl-1), in addition to untreated control for each genotype. Germination percentage, vigor and speed indicators were recorded. The research was conducted according to a completely random design, and data were analyzed by two way ANOVA at 0.01 significant level. In this research, studied genotypes showed different behavior according to the treatments and salinity levels. The results indicated that the treatments of PEG and sorbitol were superior for the studied indicators in most genotypes, especially at the low levels of salinity. In addition, the salinity and water treatments for most genotypes did not cause an increase in the values ​​of the studied indicators. Depending on these results, it is advisable to treat pepper seeds before sowing with sorbitol or PEG when the salinity level is low.

Effect of pH variation on cross-linking of water-soluble and acid-soluble chitosan with sodium tripolyphosphate and gallium-67

Background: Chitosan is a cationic biopolymer obtained from deacetylating chitin, a naturally compoundpresent in crustacean shell, fungi and exoskeleton of insects. Chitosan has various applications including drug and gene delivery systems, wound dressing and as scaffolds for tissue engineering, agriculture, textile, food and feed nanotechnology, waste water treatments. chitosan-TPP particle figure out as the most important and stable nanoparticle for chitosan application in various fields. Objective: At this study chitosan was chemically modified by sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Afterward, TPP-chitosan was radiolabeled with gallium-67 radionuclide. The effect of several factors on labeling yield such as chitosan solubility, acidity and concentration of TPP-chitosansolution, incubation time with gallium-67 were investigated. Methods: To prepare [67Ga] gallium-chitosan complex, chitosan (0.5 ml) was dissolved in 2.2 mCi of [67Ga] gallium chloride solution. The obtained solution was stirred for 5 min and then was kept for 30 min at room temperature. Radiochemical purity and radiolabeling yield was measured via radiochromatography that it was performed by using a radio thin-layer chromatography (TLC) scanner instrument. To investigate the effect of chitosan kind and concentration on the labeling yield, two kinds of chitosan (acid-soluble chitosan and water-soluble chitosan) with two different concentrations (1% and 0.5%) at different pH were used. In addition, labeling efficiency and stability of the 67Ga-TPP-chitosan complex (acidic/water soluble chitosan) at both concentrations (0.5 and 1%) at room temperature was assessed for 30, 45 and 60 min. Results: The incubation time has not significant effect on labeling yield. The acidic soluble chitosan, which has highest radiolabeling yield at pH=9.3-10.4, water soluble chitosan showed the highest radiolabeling yields at pH > 5. Also, the prepared complex was stable in the final solution at room temperature and can even be used 24 hours after preparation for further application. Conclusion: Taken together, the TPP modified water soluble chitosan at concentration 0.5 % depicted the highest radiochemical yield (>95 %) at the optimized condition (pH= 6.2–7.6). Therefore, TPP modified water soluble chitosan can be an effective carrier for therapeutic radionuclides for tumor treatment.

Methodical principles of classes of health - developing orientation

On the basis of generalizing theoretical and methodical postulates of healthing and analysis of the results of their introduction to practice it is necessary to note the main methodical principles of the lessons of healthing exercises. The graduality of increasing an intensity and duration of loads. The variety of applied means. The constancy of the lessons. Dosing on relative values the quantity of physical loads. Dosing on the frequency of cardial strikes. Dosing at accordance with energy expenses. Dosing on the number of the repetitions of physical exercises. The necessity at the lessons of physical exercises of healthing direction is conditioned with a state of functional systems and psychophysical preparation as well as understanding demand of their improvement. These factors themselves conditions an appearance of a human to healthing physical culture. It is necessary the systematical application of special means and physical exercises of various nature and direction even when a state of an organism is optimal; it gives possibility to sustain such optimal state and to apply a state at professional and applied or sport activities creating a base for achievement higher level of functional possibilities. Nowadays, new trends in health-improving physical culture have appeared, which give a health-improving effect. These include health aerobics and its varieties: step, slide, dance aerobics (net jam, hip-hop), cycling, aerobics with a load shaping, fitness, stretching. The choice of one or another method of physical exercises with a health focus is the relationship with the real circumstances, opportunities, requirements, sometimes a matter of individual taste and interest. Exercise activates and improves metabolism, improves the activity of the central nervous system, ensures the adaptation of the cardiovascular, respiratory and other systems to the conditions of muscular activity, accelerates the entry and functioning of the circulatory and respiratory systems, and reduces the length of functional recovery after shifts caused by exercise. In addition to the health effect, exercise has a training effect on the human body (increase mental and physical performance), increase the level of physical qualities, affect the formation and further improvement of vital motor skills (swimming, skiing, etc.). The health, therapeutic and training effects of exercise on the body become more effective if they are properly combined with hardening in the form of water treatments, sun and air baths, as well as massage. Thus, regular use of exercise and hardening factors improves the vitality of the body, the general state of the immune system, the functions of the autonomic systems, performance and prevents premature aging.

Hydrotherapy and Its Application in Oral Medicine

When it comes to natural medicine, the use of water or hydrotherapy is as old as humankind. Hydrotherapy is also known as water therapy, pool therapy, balneotherapy and aquatic therapy. Water as a treatment aid was used in various parts of Rome, Greece, Egypt, China and Japan in the ancient period. Water therapy means using water for medicinal purposes like hot tubs, cold water treatments, ice packs, steam vapours, saunas, mineral springs, hot springs, wet towel applications, water exercises, and water massages. Therefore, the use of water at different temperatures and in different forms provides various effects on several systems of the body. Great results of hydrotherapy were experienced by people in physical functioning, energy, sleep, cognitive function, ability to work and participation in daily life. Based on the available data and literature this review propounds that water therapy has an empirical evidence-based outcome on various systems of the body. KEY WORDS Natural Medicine, Hydrotherapy, Empirical Evidence-Based, Various Systems.

Adaptation of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) to Water Deficit during Vegetative and Reproductive Phases Using Physiological and Agronomic Characters

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is an important commodity in West Africa. Its seeds are a valuable source of protein, vitamins, and income for humans. However, cowpea cultivation in Benin faces climatic constraints such as water stress caused by a prolonged absence of rain during the rainy season. Thus, this work aims at selecting cowpea varieties that can be cultivated in times of drought without compromising their yields and yield components. Twenty cowpea varieties were used, including 17 improved cultivars and 3 landraces. The experiment was conducted at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Benin and laid at a split-plot design with four replicates. Each genotype was exposed to three water treatments: fully irrigated control, vegetative stress (when plants were 23 days old, drought stress was imposed for 30 days), and reproductive stress (once the first flowers were observed, water stress was imposed for 30 days). The results showed that photochemical yield, chlorophyll content, and relative water content were reduced under water deficit at the vegetative and reproductive stages. But there were no significant differences in proline content among cowpea varieties. Agronomic traits such as number of days to flowering, number of pods, yield per plant, the weight of 100 seeds, and harvest time showed significant differences under water stress. Overall, the landraces and cultivars including Kpodjiguegue, KVX 61-1, and IT 06-K-242-3 were the most tolerant to drought stress at the vegetative and reproductive stages and could potentially be used in breeding programs to improve drought tolerance of cowpeas.

The Influence of Concrete and Urban Water Quality On The Growth of An Invasive Weed (Salix Spp.) in One of Australia’s Most Endangered Aquatic Environments.

Riparian vegetation along urban streams and wetlands is frequently dominated by invasive weeds. Elevated nitrogen and phosphorous in urban waters and soils are well-known to encourage invasive urban weeds, but this research demonstrates that other urban geochemical contaminants may also be influential. Previous studies have demonstrated that the dissolution of urban concrete is a poorly recognised source of modified water and soil geochemistry, which may enhance the growth of some invasive weeds. This study investigated the relationship between urban water quality and the growth of an invasive urban riparian weed, willow (Salix spp.) to examine the contribution of concrete materials. The study used water from a wetland in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. These wetlands have a unique biodiversity but are fragile and susceptible to degradation from human activity. Many are in urban catchments and are frequently dominated by invasive weeds, including Salix spp. In this study, willow cuttings were grown in a laboratory using four water treatments: pristine, urban, and pristine water exposed to two different concrete materials. The urban and concrete water treatments had higher pH, salinity, calcium, potassium, and higher concentration of several metals and were associated with increased growth of Salix spp. We suggest that the modification of urban water and riparian soil chemistry by urban concrete materials may contribute to the success of invasive species in urban wetlands and riparian zones. Some metals (barium, strontium) were present in urban water and in pristine water exposed to concrete and bioaccumulated in plant tissue.